Brumbies Mark Gerrard flies throgh the air after scoring. AAP Image/Alan Porritt
The Roar has been told that Mark Gerrard wants to come back to Australian rugby in 2011, with the aim of giving the Rugby World Cup squad a real crack. This is, or should be, good news for the game here.
One of the Super Rugby clubs, the Melbourne Rebels, perhaps, should make him a workable offer.
Gerrard has just helped his team, NTT Communications, to win promotion in the Japanese Top League for the first time. In my opinion, he still has a lot to offer a Super Rugby side as a player who can play in all the positions in the backline, except perhaps halfback, with some expertise.
This versatility, providing he can get a contract and play well next season, would also be useful for the Wallabies bench. It is probably, too, late now for Gerrard to contemplate a starting position in the Wallabies. But he would be a most competent member of a squad and the reserve bench.
Gerrard came to prominence as a gifted teenager who was given a Waratahs contract by Bob Dwyer, a good judge of talent. He made his Super Rugby debut as a teenager.
But with the Waratahs and the ACT Brumbies, a team he joined in 2003, his ability to play in most of the backline positions told against him.
He never really nailed down one definitive position. The Brumbies used him as a fullback and winger. So did the Wallabies.
My hope then and now – providing he comes back – is that some coach will try him out as a five-eighth.
A spate of injuries, after he became a Wallaby, meant that he did not establish a permanent position for himself in the national side. But he seems to have recovered well in Japan and is now a refreshed and better player, a bit like the New Zealander Leon McDonald after his Japanese stint.
Gerrard has nice soft hands, a graceful, incisive, clever-stepping running game and a monster low-slung kick. You would like to think that Rod Macqueen who converted a former centre/halfback/fullback into Australia’s best first five-eighths since Mark Ella – Stephen Larkham – might take a punt and try to do the same thing with Gerrard.
One has to presume that the possibilities for a number of players including Gerrard who want to come back to Australia, or are offering to come back, relate to the creation of the Melbourne Rebels, Australia’s fifth Super Rugby franchise.
The new franchise can recruit up to 10 players who are not eligible for the Wallabies.
But you’d hope that before this option is taken, players who are Australian and eligible for the Wallabies, and who have played for their country, will be considered.
Mark Gerrard falls into this category. Chris Latham, still playing brilliantly in the UK is another, and so is Dan Vickerman currently finishing off a degree at Cambridge University.
ohtani's jacket
Guest
Well, NTT beat Toyota Jido Shokki 38-35 today to book a place in the All Japan National championship, so I might get to see a bit of Gerrard before season's end. They were outscored five tries to four but held an advantage in penalties. Gerrard came off the bench again and scored a try almost straight away.
chris
Guest
Radike and CauCau would be a great asset to a team :p http://rugbydump.blogspot.com/2008/04/radike-samo-at-his-best-in-2004.html
mattamkII
Guest
Cool, but my point is, Union snobbery is annoying. Oh but my real point is Mark Gerrard isnt that good.
rugbyfuture
Roar Guru
except when it was found out he played league all the mungos go "aw we can live without them, they're nothing to the game" just like gasnier and all the rest, and as with the case of rogers and sailor and possibly now tuqiri, when they come back, they'll go on about how much of a superstar they are and how big the game is because they're there.
mattamkII
Guest
Travis....please keep pushing Gerrard's league back ground! If you paint him as a mungo it wont be long before they turn on him and we have month after month of post about how "over rated" MG is.
Jameswm
Guest
Mr Sports I had to laugh at your comments about Brumby kickers having their kicks charged down. You've got Giteau back this year, don't you?
Jay
Guest
John Lang summed up players salaries best - 'I dont think a 1 bedroom house in paddington is worth $1m, but if thats what you want, thats what you have to pay for it".
GM
Guest
Hopefully we don't go into an inflated Super 15 player market again like when Western Force came in (Giteau). $400k for 20 games is way overs for someone who won't play for the wallabies.
katzilla
Roar Guru
He was awesome at S14 level and is probably worth a go again for any of the teams bar NSW. Its a bit unfair because it wasn't just any old flanker that run him down, stole the ball then cleared it with a great kick. Mind you Joeli Vidiri didnt last much longer at the Blues after being run down by Rodney Soialo on a clean break.
Wavell Wakefield
Roar Rookie
Totally agree.
The Other Reds Fan.
Guest
If I was Mark Gerrard, I would use my talent to take his young family to enjoy the culture of Europe for a couple of years, preferably France, like Gaznier. You only live once and you're only young once. Imagine giving the gift of a second language to your children while playing footy. Set yourself up financially and come back and buy a share in a business like a McDonald's franchise. He has had a good time here and you can't go back. He would only return for a shot at the World Cup and we all know that he won't make the Wallabies again. Let's usher in the youth that we have.
Short-Blind.
Guest
Ah um - 'best fullback' in OZ last year? Yes he was OK but limited in attack (speed) and prone to brain explosions. His boot and positional play kept the brumbies afloat longer than they should have but overall, a slightly above average S14 player at best and only had one good year with the Wallies in 2004 prior to losing the speed- as pointed out by some of our kiwi posters. I cannot see how Cameron Shepherd is not recognised as the best OZ fullback going around... when fit :( ... He scores tries regularly through good timing, speed, excellent fend and finishing ability, has solid defence and a kick that is up there with Gerrads. He is my OZ WC fullback if fit and continuing in the same form. ps I am not a Force fan!
Matt
Guest
Without doubt the best fullback last year among the Australians. HIs international career ended when McCaw ran him down from behind in a test match. Great boot, awesome step, reads the game well, but a tad too slow.
Hansie
Guest
Gerrard's return would be very welcome. I don't know why he was overlooked by the national selectors in recent years, especially given his form (particularly his strong kicking game) for the Brumbies. But he is a fullback, not a #10. The Brumbies tried him at #10 and it didn't work. He doesn't have the passing game for a fly half.
Comrade Bear
Guest
Better players = Better Product = More $$ = More players able to stay in Aus perhaps??
Gatesy
Guest
If memory serves, the Brumbies tried him at No 10 in the old APC (the previous year to the ARC) and he was all at sea.
Bob
Guest
Agreed! Nobody cares if he played league 10 years ago. He has chosen Union, so get over it.
Big Kev
Guest
hear hear
Harry
Guest
You've nailed it there as to why the Aus selectors were down on him.
Harry
Guest
Should never have left in the first place - the worst example of talent departing to the backwater of Japan (except money of course, they cream it I understand) although Fairbanks and McMenimem aren't far behind. All 3 shoudl be playing S14 and S15 next year. I think Gerard's main weakness is lack of pace, sadly never regained the zip of 2004 (when he was awesome) after a series of bad injuries, but has all the other attributes to be a fine 15 and utility player. Agree with other posters that he played very well at 15 for the Brumbies last year. Would it make too much sense for Queensalnd to sign him? Of course it would ... we've got ... Rod Davies ! Someone above wants to ban all players who go OS from playing for the Wallabies once they go ... strongly disagree, in this day and age players are free to ply their trade where they wish. I do agree that if they want to be picked in the current season then they first have to play S14.